Here's chapter four! I do hope that everyone enjoyed the last chapter. I really have worked hard on these stories. I do hope you like them. I think you will enjoy this next chapter. You get to meet Sherringford Holmes. He is--dare I say it--nothing you could imagine in a Holmes. Yes, that is how you should put it.

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Sherlock Holmes characters or the Laurie R. King characters. I do own the children and Alexia Houston. Also, when Holmes uses an alias, he uses the name he used while staying in Minnesota. For more information, see The Ice Palace Murders or The Rune Stone Mystery, both written by Larry Millett.

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"Pardon me, sir. May I sit here?" It was the longest train ride Holmes had ever been on. Waiting for the next stop to bringing him closer to Russell, it was too much for him. He was trying to figure out what Russell had gotten herself into now when he was interrupted from his reverie. He looked at the man who had just asked the question. Holmes knew exactly who it was, unfortunately for him. Luckily, though, the man didn't know who he was, though he was soon to find out.

Holmes nodded his consent. He forgot, though, that he had left the telegram from Mrs. Hudson crumpled on the seat. The man picked it up. "I have a sister-in-law named Russell. Actually, her name is Mary, but my brother, Sherlock, insists on calling her Russell."

"Really?" he said, in a high, almost squeaky, voice. "Interesting. I'm going to visit my Russell in La Havre."

"That's funny; I'm leaving from La Havre and taking a boat to go to England."

"Really? How interesting."

"See, I had this wonderful idea that I'd surprise my brother and Mary. You see, they have four children, and they love my help. They frequently ask for it, and I decided that I'd go before they'd ask."

"I'm sure," muttered Holmes. "So, they don't know that you're coming?"

"No."

"Oh, really? That is interesting. Pardon me, sir, but may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Of course! How rude of me! My name is Holmes, Sherringford Holmes."

"Why, it's a delight to meet you, Mr. Holmes. My name is John Baker."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker. So, your friend, Russell..."

"Mr. Hendrick, really."

"Well, now, there seems to be some troubles with your friend. May I ask what?"

"Of course. You see..." Holmes elaborated on an extremely stupid and unbelievable story while Sherringford listened in rapt attention. It was the most ridiculous story Holmes had ever come up with on such short notice. Yet, Sherringford Holmes, being who he is, believed it whole-heartedly.

"...and that is why I am here with you on this train," finished Holmes.

"Amazing!" cried Sherringford. "I never knew there were kangaroos in England!"

"Yes, in the zoo. I didn't mention anything about kangaroos."

"Oh...yes, of course. Just commenting."

"I have a suggestion. Call upon your family, warn them of your coming so they can prepare for you, wait a few days, or weeks even, and then come to them."

"Why, of course not! That would ruin all of the fun and surprise!"

Drat, thought Holmes.

**********

"Uncle Mycwoft?" asked Violet.

"Yes?"

"Can you take me to see Mummy?"

"Of course, honey! But maybe later. She's really tired right now."

"But...(sniff, sniff)...I really wanna see Mummy!" (Sad puppy eyes).

Mycroft fell for it. "Oh, all right, but only for a little bit. Actually, I'd like to see her, myself." They walked up the stairs, holding each other's hand. They walked towards Russell's room while talking about different things. They were stopped by Mrs. Hudson.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To...Russell's room."

"Oh, really? I suppose you can go in, but it is not the right place for Violet to be in at the moment."

"Why?"

"Go look for yourself; it is more than words can say. Come, Violet. I'll go get you a biscuit. Does that sound good?"

"Well...okay..."

Mycroft did look. Afterwards, he wished he had not. She looked awful. Or, at least, what he could see of her. She was covered with numerous bandages, bruises, and cuts. It was not a pretty sight, to say the least. He looked at her, trying to see the bright, shining Mary he knew under all of the gauze on her face.

"Russell? Can you hear me?"

"She is unconscious, Mr. Holmes," said the nurse that had come up behind him. "I'm really truly sorry, sir. I've known Mary for a year or so; such a wonderful person she is, isn't she?"

"Very. My brother was very lucky when he got her."

"Of course. Do you know, were we but an half an hour later, she might have not made it through the night?" Mycroft did not respond to this comment. "Also, the other woman is still in a coma. We're still not sure when..."

"Wait. Other woman?"

"Why, yes." The nurse was shocked. She had thought he had known. "There's another woman in the room next to this one." Mycroft immediately pushed the nurse away and ran to the other room, moving very quickly for a man of his bulk.

He stepped into the other room. The woman he saw was familiar; he had seen her with Watson, walking down the street...this must be that woman he always talked about! What was her name! Alexia?

**********

"So...what do you do to keep yourself occupied?"

Holmes wasn't exactly sure how to answer this, so he responded very vaguely, "Well, I do a bit of shooting, some card-playing, and such."

"Really? I love to hunt!" Oh no! thought Holmes. He will be rambling on about his hunting for the remainder of this trip.

Luckily for him, the rest of the trip wasn't very long. Just extremely long. Yet, that was in his mind's eyes only. It wasn't as long as he supposed it was.

"Excuse me, sir, but may I ask you a question?" asked Holmes/Baker.

"Sure! What is it?"

"Is your brother..."

"Yes."

"But you didn't hear my question!"

"But I already know the answer. He is."

"Really?"

"Aye, he is."

**********

One of the nurses came into the room. "Mr. Holmes, I believe that Miss Russell may be waking up." Mycroft rushed past the nurse, forgetting about Alexia.

He barged into the room. She didn't look conscious. But, then, she moved her hand slightly. Her eyelids soon fluttered open. Mycroft was at her side in less than moments.

"Mycroft..."

"Russell. You okay?"

"Holmes?"

"He's still in Austria. He will be here soon. Are you okay? What happened?"

"Alexia..."

"What did she do?"

"Did...she..."

"Yes?" She did not respond. She closed her eyes again, slipping back into unconsciousness.

**********

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Sherringford. I must be off now."

"Oh, well, isn't that just too bad?"

"Yes, too bad," muttered Holmes, then dashing off.

**********

"Mr. Holmes, Mrs. Hudson is asking for you." He slowly got up from his position on the floor and slowly ambled down the stairs, waiting for Mrs. Hudson's wrath upon him.

"Mycroft! Mycroft!!!" He was in front of Mrs. Hudson now, four children hanging onto her. Soon, the children were clinging onto him.

"Why don't you take them outside and let them play? All you have to do is watch them." He decided he'd just go outside. So he did, with four children following in his wake.

"David, come now, let's go!" They were outside. "Now children, play nicely with each other."

**********

"Time to change costume," Holmes muttered to himself, in his bolt-hole in Le Havre.* He grabbed a new outfit and shaved off his beard. He then shot out of the bolt-hole.

As Holmes boarded the ship, he became happy that the ride across the channel was only an hour. But his stomach churned with dread at the thought of what might be awaiting his arrival to England.

**********

"Uncle Mycwoft, can we see Mummy?" asked Violet.

"No," said Mycroft. Violet was stunned; he had never refused her so bluntly before.

"Why?" asked Judith.

"Your mother is sleeping at the moment." At least that was partly true.

"Is she sick?" asked John.

"Yes, in a way," said Mycroft. "She is too tired to get up, and will feel better if she is left to herself."

"You're lying," said David, seeing right through him.

"It doesn't matter. You're not going to see your mother now."

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*Note: The "bolt-hole" mentioned is used as a term for Holmes' hideaways in different parts of different countries that are hiding places for him when on the run. He also keeps many of his costumes with him there and much of his make-up when acting a part.

I do hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. It'd be really encouraging if somebody actually reviewed these for me. I'd be truly grateful to you, you know. I do enjoy reviews. They make me really fired up for writing. I enjoy writing, but I'm not sure if people enjoy reading what I've written. Any type of feedback is seen in pure joy, even if you wish to criticize me to the utmost. I'd enjoy some scathing at the moment.